Process of maintaining filters in filtering condition.



M. H. KURYLA.

PROCESS'QF MAINTAINING FILTERS IN FILTE-RING CONDITION.

, APPLICATION FILED OCT. 30, 1915. 1,302,813, Patented May6,1919.

2 $HEETSSHEET 1.

INVENTOR. M" H. lfufi'Ylv H ATTORNEYS.

M. H. KURYLA.

PROCESS OF MAINIAINING FILTERS IN FILTERINGI CONDITION.

APPLICATION FILED OCT-30.19%.

Patented May 6, 1919.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

IN VEIV TOR. M. H. /1 UP? YL f7 ATTORNEYS.

WITNESSES:

UNITED STATES PATENT orrIoE.

MICHAEL H. KUBYLA, OF SAN FRANCISCO. CALIFORNIA, A SSIGNOB '1'0 MERRILL METALLURGICAL COMPANY, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA, A CORPORATION OF CALIFORNIA.

raocnssor MAINTAINING FILTERS m rrmnnme comJITIon'.

Application filed October so, 1915. Serial 110.56,?80.

To all whom it may concern Be it known thatI, MICHAEL H. KURYLA, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city and county of San Francisco, State of California, have invented certain new and useful Processes of Maintaining Filters in Filtering Condition, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to metallurgical and comparable filters and particularly to a process of maintaining such filters in efficient filtering condition. y

An object of the invention is to a process of maintaining a mass medium in a filter in an eflicient filtering condition.

Another object. of the. invention is to provide a rocess of maintaining a filter in eflicient I down the filter or separating any of the parts thereof' The invention possesses other advantageous features, some of which, with the foregoing, will be set forth at length in the following description, where I shall outline in full one form of the invention which is carried out by the use, of the particular apparatus which I haveselected for illustrarovide tion in the drawings accompanying andl forming part of the present specification. It is to be understood that I do not limit myself to such for, because my invention may be embodied in a multiplicity of forms, each being a species of my invention. It is also to be understood that by the claims succeeding the description of my invention, I desire to cover the invention in whatever form it maybe embodied. The present invention is applicable to all. forms of filters now on the market and in the drawings, I

have shown it as applied to one specific form, but the invention is not limited in its application to the specific form shown.

In accordance with my invention, I employ a mass filtering medium usually consisting of sand or some other granular or,

- finely divided or permeable material, which is firmly packed in the filter to form a filtering mass so that it possesses the advanta geous features of porous brick, without any of its disadvantages.

to be unaffected by the solution to be filtered. It can withstand cutting and corrosive ac- Specification of Letters Patent.

ltering ltering condition without taking The mass filtering medium which I prefer to employ is such as Patented May 6, 1919'.

tions, is not affected by high temperatures or pressures, and 1ts nature can be suited to' the properties of the material to be filtered. The fineness of the mass filterin medium may be proportioned to the desirelf filtration to be performed, and its porosity may be varied while'maintaining its uniformit Filterrnga mixture throu h a mass ter- 1ng medium for-any great ength of time, necessarlly results in the deposit-throughout the filtering mass of some of the fine or slimy particles of the mixture being filtered, so that the mass becomes clogged and cannot be further used as a filtering medium until t has been cleaned in some way. In some instances it has been proposed to clean such filtering mediums by washing them in the filter by a reversed flow of washing fluid or otherwise. Under circumstances encountered in filterin metallurgical and comparable solutions, owever, this method of cleanlng a mass filtering medium is insufiiclent and practically impossible and in consequence, a mass filtering medium has not heretofore found generaluse in such processes.

' I have devised a process for maintaining such m'ass filtering medium in an eflicient condition, which renders general the use of a mass filtering medium in metallurgical and comparable filtering operations. This process in its preferred form consists essentially in removing the fouled packed mass filtering medium from the filter by the impmging action of streams of Water or other fluid directed against the packed mass, in cleansing it outside of the filter and then returning it, evenly distributif and packmg it in proper position within the filter. The invention in its complete form also, contemplates the removal of the cakes of solid and semi-solid material, which form during the ifiltering operation, from the filter, without separating the parts of the filter, so that it is not necessary to separate the parts of the filter either for removing and replacing the filtering medium or for removin the cakes. The cakes of solid and semi-solid material have been removed heretofore without "separating the parts of the filter, but it was necessary to separate the parts of the filter to renew or repair the-filtering mediums. By the use of thls invention, however, the separation of to separate the liquid from the solid 1plortion,

sand maybe employedas the mass tering medium.

The present process may also be employed efiiciently in the process of aluminum manufacture. In aluminum manufactlire, the hot mass or pulp containing. sodium alummate liquid and red mud is filtered to separate the liquid from the mud. Heretofore, filter cloths have been employed for accomplishing this filtration, but the action of the hot caustic liquor on the cloths is so destructive that the'cloths must be changed very frequentlyi involving an expense in time and materia s, and occasioning objectionable leakage about the joints. By means of the process of my invention, a mass filtering medium may be employed and such medium is selected. which is, not affected by the liquor nd this medium, when fouled, may-be removed from the filter and cleaned. w1thout dismembering the filter after which the cleaned mass may again be introduced Into the filter. Similarly. there are other indusin Fig. 2.

tries where 'hot solutions or caustic or acid chemicals are used orgenerated'durmg the process which would weaken or destroy the usual filtering medium and which the use' of this process will. obviate. v

In the accompanying drawmgs: Figure 1 is an elevation of one form of filter, showing means for removing, wash: ing and remtroducmg the mass filtering material. s Fig. 2 is a side new of the filter partly In section showing means for sluicing both the mass filtering material and the cakes of solid'and semi-solid material from the filter.

Fig. 3. is an end view of the filter shown Fig. 4 is an end view of amass filtering medium frame taken on 2 the foraminated plate which retains the filter mass in the frame being partly broken away,'and parts of the frame being'broken away.

Fig. 5 is an end view of one of the con-' tainer. frames, taken on the lines B-B Fig. 2.

Fig; 6 is a side View partly in section of a I modified form of filter in which the mass filtering medium frame-and container frame are formed integral."

move and clean the or otherwise exhausted.

the line AA Fig.4

Fig. 7 is an end View of the-filter frames shown in Fig. 6, part ofthe foraminated plate being broken away.

The filter may be of any desirable construction of either the ressure gravity or vacuum types to-accomp ish the ends sought by this invention, and the filtrate may pass completely'through the mass filteri material frame and be discharged from c farther side thereof, or it may pass into and through the mass filterin material in the manner shown in the embodiment illustrated in'the drawings.

By providing a process for readily removing orintroducing the mass filtering medium without takin apart or separatin various parts of the ter, many possib' ities in the filter construction and operation. are presented. Heretofore, it has been necessary to dismember the filter when new filter cloths were required and when the solution being filtered was of such nature that it roduced a very deleterious action' on the ter cloths, it was necessary to dismember the filter or parts thereof very often, a processv which is expensive both in time and material. With the use of the present process, a mass filtering medium may and the deleterious effect of the solutions in wearing the filtering medium may be entlrely overcome and it is necessary to remedium only when it fine orslimy particles The removal of the medium from the filter, its thorough cleanin and reintroduction into the filter, is

becomes clogged with be employed accomp shed rapidly and efiicientl and without the dismemberment of the ter or parts thereof.

It is understood that in metallurgical and comparable filters, the fluid, solution-or mixture to be filtered is introduced into a chamber containing a filtering medium, that the filterableortion of the fluid, solution or mixture passes through the filtering medium and that the solid and semi-solid portions of the mixture build up in the form of a cake on the surface of the filtering medium. In the present drawings, I have shown the invention. as applied'to a pressure filter, in which the chamber or chambers into which the material to be filtered is fed, are closed chambers and in which ressure is produced for forcing the filterab ed; -The units are pressed tightly together by means of the screw 4 bearing in the stande material through the filter mediumvor filter frame, but filtrawhich separate uni-ts of the press are mountard andpressing the end plate 6.

The press comprises a plurality of units of different construction alternately arranged,

the units 7 constituting. the container frames and the units 8 constituti the filter plates or sand 'orgranular material frames. The container frame .7 comprises preferably arectangular structure entirely open on its interior, for. the reception of the material to be filtered. The mass filtering-medium frame 8.

comprises a similarly shaped structure having screens or foraminous partitions 9 or other filter mass or sand retaining means arranged. at the opposite sides thereof. These foraminous partitions are preferably held in place on the frames by rivets passing through both plates or partitlons and holding them against the frame. The frames} 8 are filled with sand or other mass filtering medium and the holes in the foraminous plates are of suchisize "that the packed sand or mass is retained in the frames.

The present invention contemplates a process for filling the frames 8,with sand or other filteri medium which packs inthe frame to -ro uce a filter :plate for removing the ml from the frame, for introducing the material to be filtered into the container framesfor discharging the filtered liquid and for removing the cake of solid or semi-' solid material from the container frames, all without separating the various unlts of the filter. The frames, which when filled-with mass filtering medium become the equivalent of filter plates or leaves, are preferably arranged so that when the filtering medium is introduced into the frame 8, it flows to all portions of the frame and completely packs the interior of the frame 8. When it is dethe space therein. For this reason the frame is arranged so that an angle or apex of the frame lies above thelevelof the rest of the and 8 is providedfwith an opening 14-45 respective y extending therethrough, which, when a series of frames are put together in a filter press, makes a continuous channel orpassage extending for the length of thepress. This-channel is preferably closed at one end and is connected at the other end to a conductor or pipe 16 provided with a valve 17. Passing through the wall of the frame 8 is a passage 18, which connects the-channel formed by the alined openings 14.-15 with sirable to fill the frames 8, a mixture of the filtering medium and fluid (air, gas. or liquid), is flowed into the channel from the P p 16 the medium completely filling and packing tightly in the The fluid flows through the for-ammous plates 9 into the frames 7, whence it is dischar ed from'the ress through the valve contro ed outlets 29.

whence it flows into the frames 8,

hen the frames have become packed :with i the mass filtering. medium. the valve 17 is closed. That portion of the container frame 7 lying below the' opening leis preferably thicker than that portion of the frame 8 lying below the opening 15, so that the interior of the frame 8 extends to a higher level than the interior of the containerframe. This difference in height of the interior of the frames allows the mass filtering medium in the frameto shrink and settlew-ithout fall.-

ing below the level of the liquid in the contamer. frame, and thereby prevents the entry ofthematerial to be filtered into the frame 8 above the filtering mass therein and. the

frame 8. 1 At its lower corner or apex the filter plate is provided with a thickened portion 21 through which extends an opening 22,.

through which all ofthe container frames are interconnected when the .filter is p assembled. The material to be filtered is in troduced into the container frames through the conductor 23, which is'alined with the openings 22 in the filtering medium frames.

consequent forming of a cake within the The filterable material passes'through the medium and discharges from the'frames,

in the present instance, through the conductors 24 arranged adjacent the bottom of the frames, which conductors are provided with valves 25. A screen 39 placed over the inlet end of the conductor 24 prevents the medium from discharging withthe filtrate. Formed in the side corner of each frame is an open-' ing 26, and when aplurality of frames are assembled in a filter. press, these openings form a continuous passage extending for'the length of the filter. Each container frame is provided with a passage30connecting the interior of the frame with the passage formed by the alined openings 26, and after the cakes of solid and, semi-solid material have been formed in the containers, wash water or solution is introduced into the containers through these passages, for the purpose of removing any valuableliquid remaining in the cake. The liquid for washing the cake may be introduced through any of the other channels which communicate with the container frames.

The illustrated means employed for removing the cakes from the container frame comprises a pipe 27 disposed in-the passage formed by the openings 22 and provided with nozzles 28 directed toward the interior I of the container frames. Water or other liquids, fluid or gas or mixtures of the same, is forced through the pipe and nozzles against the cake and the cake is cut away by the impinging action ings. 22 and "conduits29. L

' The present process contemplates slwicmgtho sand or massj filtering medium fromthe {I frames 8'when the medium becomes clogged medium is cleansed; Each'frame8 is extent that renewal or thorough cleans ing\seat for the forammous part tlon and to pro- 151 v I a medium may [of cake mak1ng,or it ma be cleanseclafter thereof is advisable; The mass filtering be cleansed after each cycle a plurality of cycles'of ca e making,--that is, the filtering medium may be cleansed after each cake is formed, or severalcakes-may be formed and removed before the filtering pro- vided at its lower end with an aperture 31,

p for holding it in the closed position, and for :gate is preferably mass.

which is normally closed by agate 32. The provided with a cam 33 onits rear, which is engaged by a lever 34 rapidly opening it. One lever mayserveto operate all of the gates at the same t1me.'

.The s'luicing-outof the filtering medium isaccomplished by directingstreams of liquid va r or gas against the packed filter Til: impinging action of the ets or streams ofliquid, gas or vapor striking the packed mass from below, causes the. dlsmtegration of the mass andthe sluicing .of it from the filter.

Arranged adjacent the gates-and preferably rotatably mounted 1s a pipe 40 provided with nozzles arranged 3'1 and against the packed mass. The pipe to discharge streams through the aperture is also mounted so vthatit may be swung I 'I out of the way of the gates when the gates are to be closed and adjacent to the apertures when-the gates are d ned, a nd so that, it-may be moved during t e sluicmg opera- 'tion to direct-the stream toward the various parts .of the interior'of the frame."- The portion of the pipe which carries the nozzles 1s rotatabl connected to the remainder of the pipe, lw ich is capable of being swung, so that the nozzledportion of the pipe has a motion of rotation and translation and the pipe may be rotated by any suitable means such as the handle 68.

The discharged filtering medium may be cleansedand conducted back to the frames in manyway's, and in Fig. 1.1 have shown one form of such means. The filtering medium and water discharges from-the filthe pit or conduit 36, whence it flows to a hydraulic -classifier 37, in which. any upward-1y directed current carries off the matter which-has accumulated in the, medium.

Theclearised medium settles to the bottom of the classifier, whence it is pumped back mto the frames 8'by the. pum 38. It is employed apparent that other means may fon separating the accumulated panticles fromthe filtering medium, such as classifiers, washers, beaters or screens.

In'Fi 6 and7-I have shown a modified form of construction in which the mass filteringi medium frame and the container frame are formed int 1, the frame being provided with a' she which constitutes the containerto provi e a means consists of der 41 at that art 'maint'ained'in 'efiicientfiltering condition 4 without separating the parts of the filter. Heretofore, the cakes of solid and semi-solid material have been removed without separating the parts of the filter, butsuch separation has always been necessary to repair or renew the filtering mediums. The present invention not onlyincludes a process of maintaining the filtering medium in eflicient filtering condition, but also includes a process, by the practice of which it is not necessary to separate the parts of the filter.

I claim:

2. The recess of maintaining a mass filtering m ium in a plurality of containers in a state of filtering efliciency, which consists in simultaneously removing the medium from the plurality of containers, cleansing the re moved medium andintroducing the cleansed medium simultaneously into the plurality of containers.

3. The process of maintaining mass filtering medium in a plurality of containers in a state offiltering efiiciency, which consists in simultaneously removing the medium edium in a state of filtering '10s 1. The process of maintaining afilter. em-

om the plurality of containers, cleansing the removed medium and sluioing the cleansed medium simultaneously into the plurality of containers.

4. The process of maintaining mass filtering medium in a plurality of containers in a state of filtering efliciency, which consists in simultaneously sluicin the medium out of the plurality of containers by the impingement of streams of fluid, cleansing the re moved medium and sluicing the cleansed medium simultaneously into the plurality of containers.

5. The step in the process of maintainin a mass filtering medium in a plurality 0 containers in a state of filtering efiiciency which consists in introducing said medium simultaneously into said plurality of containers.

6. The step in the process of maintaining a mass filtering medlum in a plurality of containers in a state of filtering efliciency which consists in sluicing said medium s imultaneously into said plurality of containers.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand at San Francisco, California, this 23rd day of October, 1915.

MICHAEL H. KURYLA.

In presence of- H. G. PRos'r. 

